★ 04/18/2022
Twelve-year-old Filipino American Freddie Ruiz and his family have been plagued with bad luck, which they’ve dubbed the “Ruiz Family Curse,” for as long as they can remember. As a result, Freddie’s reputation for inadvertently courting misfortune precedes him, often ending friendships before they can begin. After Freddie uncovers an anting-anting, an amulet that grants its owner good luck, he believes he’s found the answer to his problems (“good luck—or heck, even nonbad luck—would be life-changing”). Instead, Freddie accidentally releases the ghost of his great-granduncle Ramon Ruiz, the amulet’s previous owner, who died at 17 during Imperial Japan’s invasion of the Philippines in WWII. When Ramon reveals that his summons also released vengeful spirits, Freddie and his curse-free cousin Sharkey Mendoza only have 13 days to save their family and break the Ruiz curse or risk trapping Ramon—and Freddie—in the amulet forever. Freddie, Sharkey, Ramon, and the rest of the Ruiz brood form an eclectic cast that feels loving and familiar. A madcap supernatural adventure infused with Filipino mythology, Badua’s debut highlights one Filipino American family’s experience navigating familial obligation, tradition, culture, and history. Ages 8–12. Agent: Natalie Lakosil, Bradford Literary. (May)
"A spirited fantasy enriched with Filipino culture and history." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"A madcap supernatural adventure infused with Filipino mythology, Badua’s debut highlights one Filipino American family’s experience navigating familial obligation, tradition, culture, and history." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“This book has it all—rich folklore, thrilling adventure, and hilarity. You’ll be cheering for Freddie from beginning to end.” — Erin Entrada Kelly, Newbery Medal-winning author of Hello, Universe and Lalani of the Distant Sea
"The perfect combination of laugh-so-hard-you-snort hilarity and get-you-in-the-feels family story that’ll stick with you long after the last page. Come for the suspenseful pacing and cringey comedic episodes, but it’s the authentic and spunky cast of characters who will steal your heart." — Jessica Kim, author of Stand Up, Yumi Chung!
"Equal parts heartwarming and laugh-out-loud-funny, Freddie vs. The Family Curse will have readers breakdancing with delight . . . and checking for toilet paper stuck to their shoes. I loved it!” — Alyssa Colman, author of The Gilded Girl
". . . Full of humor and high stakes . . . Takes readers on an adventuresome ride with likable and funny characters who learn to make their own luck." — Booklist
"Weaving mystery, folklore, history, magic, and intrigue, Freddie’s adventures are a comical, entertaining delight." — Horn Book Magazine
This book has it all—rich folklore, thrilling adventure, and hilarity. You’ll be cheering for Freddie from beginning to end.
"The perfect combination of laugh-so-hard-you-snort hilarity and get-you-in-the-feels family story that’ll stick with you long after the last page. Come for the suspenseful pacing and cringey comedic episodes, but it’s the authentic and spunky cast of characters who will steal your heart."
". . . Full of humor and high stakes . . . Takes readers on an adventuresome ride with likable and funny characters who learn to make their own luck."
"Equal parts heartwarming and laugh-out-loud-funny, Freddie vs. The Family Curse will have readers breakdancing with delight . . . and checking for toilet paper stuck to their shoes. I loved it!
". . . Full of humor and high stakes . . . Takes readers on an adventuresome ride with likable and funny characters who learn to make their own luck."
★ 2022-02-09
Freddie must work with the ghost of an ancestor to break his family’s curse.
Living a life filled with bad luck has made Freddie Ruiz the social outcast of seventh grade. It’s not just run-of-the-mill misfortune, either; It’s a curse that has afflicted the Ruiz family for generations. So when Freddie finds an old gold coin that his great-grandmother Apong Rosing calls an anting-anting, or lucky amulet, he believes that everything is about to change for the better. Unfortunately, as the amulet’s magic starts to return, the ghost of Ramon, his great-granduncle, appears before him. Ramon warns Freddie that he’s riled up the curse’s spirits, meaning that things will only get worse, leading to Freddie’s death and entrapment in the coin in 13 days’ time. With the help of Ramon and Sharkey Mendoza, a cousin on the curse-free maternal side of his family, Freddie must find a way to save himself and his family. His hilarious narration pulls readers into his life, including his many embarrassing moments. This exciting fantasy is centered around Filipino folklore and superstition and includes themes of family, courage, and making your own luck. The Ruiz family will resonate with many as they consider their cultural heritage in the context of what they believe it means to be American. The relationship between the Philippines and the U.S. during World War II is seamlessly woven into the story.
A spirited fantasy enriched with Filipino culture and history. (Fantasy. 8-12)
